Spain measures its streak against a strong Georgia
The Scariolo take their plenary to Tbilisi on the way to the World Cup
MADRID, 3 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish men’s basketball team lives this Monday (17:00/Teledeporte) in Tbilisi its penultimate match of the first qualifying phase for the 2023 World Cup, a long road that has been full of victories and that against Georgia, second in Group B , they will want to lengthen.
Sergio Scariolo’s men have been performing at the highest level in the FIBA ’windows’ procession since last November. A four out of four in wins that seeks the fifth and will end on Thursday against Ukraine in Riga, already knowing in the second phase of the road to the next World Cup in which they will defend the title.
Without looking any further, the summer is long, but with the aim of continuing to grow, Spain faces the toughest rival in the group and away from home. The reigning world champion began her summer marathon (two ‘windows’, friendlies and Eurobasket in September) with a victory over North Macedonia on Friday.
In Zaragoza I can see that Scariolo’s team, without NBA players or Real Madrid or Barça, has the quality and wardrobe to win and even overwhelm so far. Against the Macedonians it was a full blown from the second quarter until the final 80-44, with a great Sebas Saiz, 19 points and 9 rebounds.
Without points from Lopez-Arostegui and without Quino Colom, two leading players for this Spain of the ‘windows’, the national team left a recital of character and intensity from defense while the vast majority of world basketball is on vacation.
The Georgian team did not count in the first leg held in Jaén with Tornike Shengelia and Scariolo’s men were much superior, but this time and despite the defeat against Ukraine on Friday, Georgia arrives with a strong squad and with several acquaintances from the Endesa League. Also, wins count among the teams that advance.
“The match is of great importance for the qualification for the World Cup, to add useful victories for the next phase. Georgia is a dangerous opponent, with a brutal inside game with great players like Shengelia and Shermadini, another very good player like Burjanadze and a great scorer, a leader capable of great scoring streaks like McFadden”, recalled Scariolo, in statements provided by the Spanish Federation.
DATASHEET.
–EQUIPMENT:
–GEORGIA: McFadden, Sanadze, Bokolishvili, Shengelia y Shermadini –posible quinteto inicial–, Andronikashvili, Jintcharadze, Burjanadze, Korsantia, Berishvili,
SPAIN: Colom, López-Aróstegui, Parra, Pradilla and Sima –possible starting quintet–, Saiz, Barreiro, Bassas, Brizuela, Díaz, Fernández, Guerra, Salvó, Yusta.
–PAVILLION: Tbilisi Sports Palace.
–TIME: 5:00 p.m./Telesport.